Letter: Access to drugs increases use by young people

Feb. 28, 2014

Youths are naturally full of dreams, strong wills and cravings for excitement. In their quest for excitement, they are challenged to choose options that fuel their future rather than compromise it. Early alcohol, marijuana and other drug use fall into the latter category of compromising futures. The earlier a person engages in substance use, the higher the likelihood that they will develop dependency or addiction.

Increased access to substances correlates with increased use by youths, and local data supports this relationship. According to the Colorado Department of Education, in the 2009-2010 school year, the period during which marijuana dispensaries opened in Fort Collins, there was a marked increase in drug-related offenses at Poudre School District high schools. Drug offenses include but are not limited to marijuana. There were 104 such offenses recorded in the 2009-10 school year, representing a 120 percent increase from the prior year.

The following school year, the number of drug offenses increased even further to 142, representing a 200 percent increase from before the opening of the dispensaries.

A critical component to the state’s legalization of marijuana is that local municipalities are granted the prerogative to allow or disallow recreational marijuana retail stores in their communities. The Fort Collins City Council will vote on this matter at 7 p.m. Tuesday. City Council meetings are designed for public comment. Your participation is welcome.